Obituary for Barry Lynn Burk
Barry Lynn Burk, of Durant, Oklahoma passed from this life on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at the age of 79.
Barry was born on January 11, 1942 in Duncan, Oklahoma to the late Dee Mack and Dorothy (Cagle) Burk.
Along with his parents, Dee and Dorothy, and his brother, Roy, they moved to Wagoner, Oklahoma where he became an outstanding athlete in basketball, football, as well as rodeo. As a graduate of Wagoner High School.
He earned scholarships in football from The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University along with basketball from Northeastern Oklahoma State and rodeo at Hardin-Simmons University. Instead of going to college, Burk started on the road for his professional rodeo career.
Barry married Cheryl Ann Allred Wesley on December 11, 1971 in Duncan, Oklahoma. Then together they left for the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City where Barry set a calf roping arena record that night.
To say that Barry loved Rodeo is an understatement! All the way from AJRA to Oklahoma High School to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Barry was a winner! Now a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. In his later years he dedicated his life to mentoring young ropers to help them achieve their goals in Rodeo and promoting his Sport of Rodeo. Barry and Cheryl started hosting the annual BB Championship Jr Roping for the past 36 years in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Barry was a longtime resident of Duncan and Durant, Oklahoma and proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He became a Wrangler endorse in the 60’s. Burk, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 18 times – 16 in tie-down roping (1964-77, 1979-80) and twice in steer wrestling (1963, 1969). He also competed as a team roping header at the 1968 NFR.
Barry loved rodeo, he loved the rodeo life, and he loved the people who he got to be friends with and meet through rodeo. Most of all he loved his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dee Mack and Dorothy Burk; son “Opie” Dee Lawrence Burk; uncles Clyde Burk, Jiggs Burk; aunts Billie Burk, Jean Burk, Katherine Burk and cousins Rusty Burk and Bobby Plott.
Survivors include his wife Cheryl Burk of the home; brother Roy Burk and wife Melinda of Duncan, Oklahoma; son Blair Burk and wife Chelsey of Caddo, Oklahoma; grandsons Dalton Doshier Burk of Bull Shoals, Arkansas, Bryler Roy Burk of Caddo, Oklahoma Granddaughter T’Lee Ann Burk of Caddo Oklahoma and Step-grandchildren Kennedy Phillips, Hudson Phillips, Gentry Phillips of Caddo Oklahoma as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
A family hour will be held from 6:00-7:00PM, Monday, December 20, 2021 at Gordon Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma.
A celebration service will be held at 2:00PM, Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at Victory Life Church in Durant, Oklahoma.
A graveside service will be held at Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche Oklahoma at 1:00PM, Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
In lieu of flowers may make a donation to carry on Barry’s passion for the future of youth in the Sport of Rodeo to the Burk Legacy Fund at PO Box 233 Durant, OK 74702
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com
Barry was born on January 11, 1942 in Duncan, Oklahoma to the late Dee Mack and Dorothy (Cagle) Burk.
Along with his parents, Dee and Dorothy, and his brother, Roy, they moved to Wagoner, Oklahoma where he became an outstanding athlete in basketball, football, as well as rodeo. As a graduate of Wagoner High School.
He earned scholarships in football from The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University along with basketball from Northeastern Oklahoma State and rodeo at Hardin-Simmons University. Instead of going to college, Burk started on the road for his professional rodeo career.
Barry married Cheryl Ann Allred Wesley on December 11, 1971 in Duncan, Oklahoma. Then together they left for the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City where Barry set a calf roping arena record that night.
To say that Barry loved Rodeo is an understatement! All the way from AJRA to Oklahoma High School to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Barry was a winner! Now a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. In his later years he dedicated his life to mentoring young ropers to help them achieve their goals in Rodeo and promoting his Sport of Rodeo. Barry and Cheryl started hosting the annual BB Championship Jr Roping for the past 36 years in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Barry was a longtime resident of Duncan and Durant, Oklahoma and proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He became a Wrangler endorse in the 60’s. Burk, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 18 times – 16 in tie-down roping (1964-77, 1979-80) and twice in steer wrestling (1963, 1969). He also competed as a team roping header at the 1968 NFR.
Barry loved rodeo, he loved the rodeo life, and he loved the people who he got to be friends with and meet through rodeo. Most of all he loved his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dee Mack and Dorothy Burk; son “Opie” Dee Lawrence Burk; uncles Clyde Burk, Jiggs Burk; aunts Billie Burk, Jean Burk, Katherine Burk and cousins Rusty Burk and Bobby Plott.
Survivors include his wife Cheryl Burk of the home; brother Roy Burk and wife Melinda of Duncan, Oklahoma; son Blair Burk and wife Chelsey of Caddo, Oklahoma; grandsons Dalton Doshier Burk of Bull Shoals, Arkansas, Bryler Roy Burk of Caddo, Oklahoma Granddaughter T’Lee Ann Burk of Caddo Oklahoma and Step-grandchildren Kennedy Phillips, Hudson Phillips, Gentry Phillips of Caddo Oklahoma as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
A family hour will be held from 6:00-7:00PM, Monday, December 20, 2021 at Gordon Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma.
A celebration service will be held at 2:00PM, Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at Victory Life Church in Durant, Oklahoma.
A graveside service will be held at Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche Oklahoma at 1:00PM, Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
In lieu of flowers may make a donation to carry on Barry’s passion for the future of youth in the Sport of Rodeo to the Burk Legacy Fund at PO Box 233 Durant, OK 74702
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com